The Associated Press

LEXINGTON - Blue Grass Airport grew at a faster rate than any other airport in Kentucky last year, according to a report.

Passenger activity increased by nearly 19 percent from 2002, according to a study by the Airports Council International-North America.

Passengers increased from 961,750 in 2002 to 1.14 million in 2003.

Spokesman Tom Tyra said the airport saw a 30 percent increase in daily flights last year. The airport also added nonstop flights to Dallas and New York's LaGuardia Airport.

Based on data provided by Airports Council International, the Lexington airport ranked fifth in the United States for growth in passengers and seventh in North America.

The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport in Hebron ranked 75th in North America.

Louisville International Airport, with a negative 5 percent change in passenger activity, ranked 147th. Paducah's airport, with an 8.2 percent increase in passengers, ranked 21st.

Several airports showed negative growth, including St. Louis, which had a 20.5 percent drop in passengers.

"Despite a turbulent aviation industry and significant competition among airports in Kentucky and across the nation, it is gratifying to see Lexington once again recognized as a leader among airports in the U.S.," said Natalie Wilson, vice chairwoman of the airport board.

The Lexington airport will launch nonstop jet service to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport this month.